Mechanisms of weed seed persistence and development of novel weed management tools

杂草的成功至少部分归功于种子休眠和寿命作为早期生活史适应机制。该项目的总体目标是更深入地了解杂草种子适应环境温度变化的基本机制。杂草和热胁迫是农业和粮食安全的主要威胁;目前约有10%的作物产量因杂草而损失。如果没有除草剂，这些损失约为50%。该项目的目标和可交付成果是在伦敦皇家霍洛威大学（RHUL）G Leubner教授的种子生物学和工程小组与Jealott's Hill国际研究中心（JHIRC，布拉克内尔，UK）大卫Stock博士领导的先正达杂草控制研究之间的合作中实现的。我们将进行种子休眠，发芽和寿命模拟的反应，重点是有毒杂草。这将是在不同的温度和化学操作后，提供定量的生理框架，用于随后的比较激素和转录组分析，以阐明基础的分子机制。从比较转录组学，我们将选择差异表达的基因，并获得保守和种子特异性靶机制的候选人。利用确定的合适的靶基因，我们将开发反义寡核苷酸和确定化学品，专门开发新的农业技术，杂草种子和幼苗控制。该项目以及与先正达的合作将利用我们的优势，通过提供创新的农业技术以及提供与农业相关的培训和技能开发来加强生物经济。

Weeds owe their success, at least in part, to seed dormancy and longevity as early-life history adaptation mechanisms. The overall aim of this project is to gain a deeper understanding of the fundamental mechanisms of weed seed adaptation to changing ambient temperatures. Weeds and heat stress are major threats to agriculture and food security; about 10% of crop production is currently lost to weeds. Without herbicides these losses would be about 50%. The objectives and deliverables of this project are achieved in a collaboration between the Seed Biology and Engineering Group of Prof G Leubner at Royal Holloway University of London (RHUL) and Syngenta's Weed Control Research led by Dr David Stock at Jealott's Hill International Research Centre (JHIRC, Bracknell, UK). We will conduct seed dormancy, germination, and longevity modelling of responses with the focus on noxious weeds. This will be at different temperatures and upon chemical manipulation to deliver the quantitative physiological framework for the subsequent comparative hormone and transcriptome profiling to elucidate the underpinning molecular mechanisms. From the comparative transcriptomics we will select differentially expressed genes and derive candidates for conserved and seed-specific target mechanisms. Using identified suitable targets genes we will develop antisense oligionucleotides and identify chemicals to specifically develop novel agri-technologies for weed seed and seedling control. This project and collaboration with Syngenta builds on our strengths to enhance the bioeconomy by providing innovative agri-technologies and by providing training and developing skills relevant to the agricultural industry.